Clock



Aug. 28, 1956 R. L. TWEEDALE CLOCK Filed May ll. 1955 (ID 54 aow@ 56 SGDL (1D) 52 jf 50i FIG. 6

INVEN TOR.

FIG. 7

Mig@

United States Patent O CLOCK Ralph L. Tweedale, Birmingham, Mich.

Application May 11, 1955, Serial No. 507,538

11 Claims. (Cl. 58-125) This invention relates to clocks and more particularly to a novelty clock which gives the appearance of having no works It is an object of the present invention to provide a clock and actuating mechanism therefor in which the time indicating hands may be driven from a slender annulus having a transparent or open interior, which annulus is suspended in the air preferably upon slender wires or cords.

A further object is to provide a novel driving mechanism for the hands of a mystery clock.

Another object is to provide a mystery clock in which actuation is obtained by back and forth motion eifected between relatively movable supports.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

in the drawing:

Figure l is a front view of a clock embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front View of a portion of the hand actuating mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side View of the clock shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged View partly broken away, showing a portion of the annular driving mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross-section on line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View on a larger scale taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross-section taken on line 7 7 of Figure 4.

The clock shown in the drawing comprises a base 10 which may be formed of wood, metal, or other suitable opaque material having a cavity 12 in which is mounted a driving motor 14. The motor 14 may be of any suitable type, such as a synchronous electric motor, or it may be of the spring-wound escapement type. Extending upwardly from the base 10 is a bar 16 having a horizontal extension 18 at its upper end to which is rigidly secured an eye 20 forming one support for the clock hand actuating mechanism.

The bar 16 also carries a dial 22. This may comprise a disc of glass or other transparent material, or it may simply consist of an open ring carrying time indicia. Although it is preferred to construct the dial so as to be transparent, and thus enhance the mystery eiect, this is not essential and other forms of dials which are opaque in whole or in part may readily be used with the present invention.

Slidable in a vertical guide hole in the base is a plunger 24 carrying an eye 26 which forms a second support for the hand actuating mechanism. At the bottom of the plunger 24 is a flange 28 which acts as a cam follower running on an eccentric cam mounted upon the drive shaft 32 of the motor 14. A spring 34 biases the plunger 24 downwardly. A pointer and actu- 2,760,333 Patented Aug. 28, 1956 ating assembly, generally designated 36, is suspended between the two supports 20 and 26. This is done by means of slender cord or wire bridles 38 constituting suspension members which extend between the eyes 20 and 26, and a set of four actuating connections 40, 42, 44, and 46. rThe actuating connections 40 and 46 are mounted upon a first ring member, later to be described, and the actuating connections 42 and 44 are mounted upon a second ring member, later to be described, which is oscillatable relative to the rst ring member.

As will be seen from Figure 2, when the supporting eyes 20 and 26 are moved away from each other, as shown by the arrows, the actuating connections 40 through 46 partake of motion as indicated by the arrows. This produces clockwise oscillation of the rst ring having connections 40 and 46 thereon, and counterclockwise oscillation of the second ring which carries connections 42 and 44. Opposite motion of the supports will of course permit opposite motion of the connections and their rings under the action of a resilient bias later to be described.

Referring now to Figures 4 through 7 inclusive, the annular hand supporting and driving mechanism includes a pair of housing rings 50 and 52 which are L-shaped in cross-section. Ring 5), which lies at the front, may carry the actuating connections 4t) and 46, and ring 52, at the rear, may carry the actuating connections 42 and 44. The rings are held in concentric and abutting relation to form a U-shaped channel by means of a number of internal hook plates 54 which are screwed to the ring 50 and have an open ended channel 56 formed by an arm 58 which lies adjacent the inner surface of ring 52. A bearing block 60 is screwed to the ring 52 so as to slide within the channel 56 when the rings 50 and 52 oscillate with respect to each other. A blocking pin 62 is threaded from the outside of ring 52 to extend inwardly adjacent the hook plate 54 and limit this relative oscillation so as to prevent the block 60 from leaving the channel 56.

A flat spring member of a general C shape is indicated at 64 and extends completely around the inside of the U-shaped channel except for the space indicated in Figure 4 where its ends are provided with eyes to engage pins 66 and 68 extending from the rings 50 and 52, respectively, as shown in Figure 5. The spring 64 may thus bias the rings 5@ and 52, preferably in the direction separating the pins 66 and 68.

Journalled on the inside periphery of the rings 5t) and 52 are a pair of toothed drive rings 70 and 72 for the hour and minute hands, respectively. The drive ring '70 has pressed into its inner opening an annular disc 74 which has an integral cylindrical neck 76 and carries an hour hand 73 and a counterbalance 80, both preferably formed integrally with the disc 74. A similar disc 82, having a slightly thicker neck 84, is pressed into the ring 72 and carries no pointer. However, a third annular disc S6, having a deep cylindrical neck $8, is pressed into the neck 84 and carries on the outer periphery of the disc part a minute hand and a counterbalance 92. Thus there is provided an hour hand assembly consisting of the hour ring 70 and its rigidy associated parts 74, 76, 78, and Si), which is mounted for rotation independently of the rings 50 and 52, and of the minute hand assembly. The latter comprises minute ring 72 and associated parts 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, and 92, and is likewise freely rotatable independently of the other members mentioned.

The minute hand drive ring '72 carries a plurality of ratchet teeth 94 formed by notches 96. The number of teeth is chosen with respect to the speed of the motor drive shaft 32 so as to produce one revolution per hour.

Conveniently the shaft 32 may make one revolution a minute and the ring 72 may be provide d with sixty notches or teeth. lf such a number of teeth is chosen, five of the notches are made twice as deep as the rest, .as shown at $3. In any event .every twelfth `notch may be a deep one. rthe hour hand drive ring 70 isprovided with a similar number ot teeth and notches except that all notches are of the same depthl asV the shallow notches v96.

yA unitary twin pawl 100 is journalled onI a pin 102, carried by the ring 52, and is biased by gravity,or if desired, by springrneans not shown, so as to engage in the .of-the hour. ringl 70. vA pair of. separate `andindependeut holding pawls 16S and 116 are mounted on a pin 112 carried by the ring Si), and serve to independentlyzengage theteeth. of wheels 72 and 76, respectively.

In operation, with the motor 14 running and driving eccentrico@l at a timed rate, the two supports 20 .and 26 are4 caused to advance and recede from each other. The spring 34.induces thereceding motion and it is chosen so vas tohave suticient force topredominate over the force of the C-shapedbiasing spring 64 which lies within Ythe handring-assembly. This to and` fro motion, aspreviouslyv described, acts-through the bridles 38 and the actuating connections 4l) through 46 to cause an oscillatory motion of rings 50 and 52 relative to each Other. This causes the pins 192 and 112 to move in opposite directions, also approaching and receding each other in alternate cycles, and thus produces a step-by-step ratchetaction uponthe minute ring 72.

For eleven of such steps thepawl 104 engages-with shallow notchesv96 on the ring 72, and the pawl arm 106 rides clear of the teeth on the hour ring 70. Every twelfth step the pawl arm "iQ/Jifalls into a deep notch 93, and during this step the pawl arm 166 engages a notch in the hour ring and thus both rings are advanced one step. Thus in o ne-fth of a revolution of the minute hand theY hour hand advances one-sixtieth of a revolution, giving the required -1211 ratio between the hour and minute hands.

It will-be obvious that diierent numbers of teeth may be utilized so-long as the required ratio of hand speeds is maintained. The use of sixty teeth, as chosen -for the instant example, has the advantage of requiring slow and thus `irmgerceptible motion of the plunger 24. If the diameter of the hand ring assembly 36 is kept small with respect to the ldial, the actual displacementlof the center of the hand ring with respect to the center of the dial may be kept small to also be unnoticed.

Thus the present invention provides a mystery clock in which the illusion is created that the works or drive mechanismis absent. The clock hands may be readily set byvmerely advancing either or both of them manually, letting the pawls click past as the teeth of the drive rings pass under them.

While the Aform of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is tol be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: l. A mystery clock mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial rings mounted for relative oscillation about their tion independently of each other and of the rings, land four-actuating connectionsnspaced around said rings, alternate connections being mounted upon alternate rings, and

@n atuatvrechaais-m C Qrnptisitis two. suppcftsrelatively movable toward and away from each other, suspension members extending between one of said supports and a pair of said alternate connections and between the other support and the other pair of connections, and step-bystep drive mechanism for driving the pointers from the oscillation of said ringsproduced by the to and fro motion of said supports.

2. A mystery clock mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial rings mountedl for relative oscillation about their common axis, means resiliently biasing the rings in one direction of oscillatory motion, separateminute-and hour pointers mounted in association with the rings for rotation independently of each other and of the rings, and four actuating connections spaced around said rings, alternate connections being mounted upon alternate rings, and an actuator mechanism comprising two supports relatively -movabletoward andaway from each other, suspension members extending between one of said supports and -a pair of said alternate connections and between the other support and the other pair of connections, and a pawl and ratchet,y drive including a deep notch transfer mecha- -nismffon driving the pointers from the oscillation of lsaid rings produced by the to and frovmotion of said supports.

i3. .A mystery clock comprising la dial having a pair of diametrically opposite supports spaced a substantial diS- -tance from thedial center, a minute and hour hand 1supporting assembly, slender strand members forming the sole rneanssuspending the assembly between said sup- .portsoutof contact withthedial and in central alignment therewith, means producing relative motion 0f said supportsin an approaching and receding cycle and mechyanism forcausingtimed motion of the minute .and hour -hands inresponse to the relative motion of said supports.

4, .A mystery clock comprising a dial having` a pair of diametrically opposite supports spaced a substantial distance from the dial center, a minute and hour hand supporting., assembly, means suspending the assembly between said supports out ofscontact with the dial and in central alignmenttherewith and constituting the sole support in space for said assembly, Ameans producing relative motion of said supports in an approaching and receding cycle and mechanism for causing timed motion of the minute and hour hands in response to the relative motion of said supports.

5. vA clock comprising a dial carrying time indicia, means ltorminga rotational support adjacent-the-dial for supporting minute and hour hands, a minute rring having 'anon-opaque central-area and having ratchet teeth, the minute ring having a plurality of deep notches distributed among its ratchet teeth, said rings carrying the respective hands' andfbeing rotationally mounted on said support solely adjacent -their peripheries, an oscillata'ole `pawl means'haviug a corresponding central area whichis vnonopaque -and arranged to drive the minute ring at each stroke ofthe pawl -meansrand to drive both rings at each stroke duringwhich the pawl means engages a deep notch `rinthe minutering and means for oscillating said pawl means.

6. A clockhand supporting and driving assembly for use in. a mystery clock comprisingranhour hand ring and -a minute-hand ring, each carrying ratchet teeth, the miuute hand ring having -a series of deep notches distributed among its ratchet teeth, a -s.1pportingri1^-g and an oscilllatabl'e drive ring mounted for-oscillationcoaxially with -saidrings-and carrying pawlrrneans to engage and drive `saidteetb, each-of the ringsvhaving a substantial central area which is not opaque.

'7. -A clock comprising a dial carrying time indicia. means forming a rotational.support'adjacent thedialrfor supporting minute and hourfhands, aminuteringha-ving Ia non-opaque central areaand having ratchet teeth, au ,'hourting having a non-opaque central area and having ratchet teeth, the minute ring having one out of every twelve of its notches formed with a larger dimension-than the remaining eleven notches, the teeth of said rings lying in separate but adjacent circular zones, said rings carrying the respective hands and being together rotationally mounted on said support solely adjacent their peripheries, an oscillatable pawl carrier having a central area which is non-opaque and a pawl carried by the pawl Carrier and cooperating with the teeth of the minute ring to drive it one step for each oscillation of the carrier, said pawl having a dimensional relation to said rings to pass clear of the hour ring teeth while engaged in any one of said eleven notches and to engage both rings whenever the pawl engages one of said larger dimensioned notches, a holding pawl for the rings mounted on said support and means for producing relative oscillation between the pawl carrier and the support.

8. A clock hand supporting and driving assembly for use in a mystery clock comprising an hour hand ring and a minute hand ring, each carrying ratchet teeth, the minute hand ring having a series of special notches distributed among its ratchet teeth, said special notches being in the ratio one for every eleven other notches and having one dimension thereof substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the other eleven notches, a supporting ring and an oscillatable drive ring mounted for oscillation coaxially with said rings and carrying pawl means to engage and drive said teeth, each of the rings having a substantial central area which is not opaque.

9. A clock hand supporting and driving assembly for use in a mystery clock comprising an hour hand ring and minute hand ring, each carrying ratchet teeth, the minute hand ring having a series of special notches distributed among its ratchet teeth, said special notches being in the ratio one for every eleven other notches and having one dimension thereof substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the other eleven notches, a supporting ring and an oscillatable drive ring mounted for oscillation coaxially with said rings and carrying pawl means to engage and drive said teeth, each of the rings having a -substantial central area which is not opaque, and means lying entirely radially outward of said minute and hour rings and having substantially all its peripheral area non-opaque to form both a mechanical support and an oscillating drive.

l0. A mystery clock `mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial rings mounted for relative oscillation about their common aXis, separate minute and hour pointers mounted in association with the rings for rotation independently of each other and of the rings, and four actuating connections spaced around said rings, alternate connections being mounted upon alternate rings, and an actuator mechanism comprising two supports relatively movable toward and away from each other, suspension members extending between one of said supports and a pair of said alternate connections and between the other support and the other pair of connections, and step-by-step drive mechanism for driving the pointers from the oscillation of said rings produced by the to and fro motion of said supports.

ll. A mystery clock mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial rings mounted for relative oscillation about their common aXis, separate minute and hour pointers mounted in association with the rings for rotation independently of each other and of the rings, and four actuating connections spaced around said rings, alternate connections being mounted upon alternate rings, and an actuator mechanism comprising two supports relatively movable toward and away from each other, suspension members extending between one of said supports and a pair of said alternate connections and between the other support and the other pair of connections, and a pawl and ratchet drive including a deep notch transfer mechanism for driving the pointers form the oscillation of said rings produced by the to and fro motion of said supports.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,446,182 Hicks Feb. 20, 1923 2,248,195 Prins July 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 845,764 France May 22, 1939 

